Tie rod for concrete block



L. SHOCKEY TIE ROD FOR CONCRETE BLOCK Filed March 28, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

LOVELL SHocKEY V: I I

ATTORNEY 2,948,084 TIE ROD FOR CONCRETE BLOCK Lovell Shockey, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assi'gnor to National Malleable and Steel Gastings Company, Cleveland, Ohro, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 28, 1957, Ser. No. 649,201

3 Claims. (Cl. 50-426) This invention relates to tie rods, and more particularly to a tie rod for use in joining in spaced relationship a pair of concrete blocks.

A recent design of concrete block comprises a pair of concrete block sections which are tied together in spaced relationship by a pair of tie rods embedded in the sections. It is necessary, in a block of this type, that the two sections be firmly joined together to facilitate handhng and shipping thereof, as well as to increase the strength and stability of walls built fromsuch blocks. Accordingly, it is essential that the rod have a surface configuration which will provide maximumresistance to twisting and turning of the rod relative to the block sections in which it is embedded.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a tie rod which will have maximum holding power when embedded in concrete and which offers extreme resistance to dislodgment from its embedded position.

A further object is to provide an improved construction for a tie rod in the form of a casting involving a novel arrangement of longitudinal ribs together with transverse annular flanges which serve to resist rotation and withdrawal of the rod from the concrete.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a tie rod constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end View of the rod shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7' of Fig. 1. 7

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a concrete block having its sections joined with a pair of tie rods constructed in accordance with Figs. 1 to 7.

The tie rod 10 for joining the sections of a concrete block of the type shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing includes a longitudinal body portion 12 which is provided with a plurality of equally spaced axial ribs 14 extending substantially the entire length of the member. In the embodiment shown, the tie rod has four such ribs and these are located symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of the rod. The outer face 14a of each rib is generally flat and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod. Ribs 14, where they merge with the body of the rod, are joined by fillet portions as at 16. Ribs 14, when embedded in the concrete, serve eifectively to resist twisting of the rod about its longitudinal axis.

Intersecting ribs 14 are a plurality of longitudinally spaced, generally transversely extending annular ribs or flanges 18, 20, 22 and 24. Each of these flanges is dis- Patented Aug. 9, 1966 posed at right angles to ribs 14. Flanges 18, 20 and 22 are grouped at each end of the rod, preferably on the outer quarter thereof, while flange 24 is disposed at the center of the rod. Flanges 18, 20 and 22 serve to preclude axial displacement of the rod relative to the concrete in which it is embedded. The inner and outer flanges 20 are each formed with pairs of diametrically opposite flattened portions 26 and 28', respectively, the pair 26 being preferably positioned at right angles to pair 28. Portions 26 and 28 are for the purpose of stabilizing the rod when it is embedded in concrete and also for preventing rotation of the rod, especially when coarse aggregates are used. Between annular flanges 18, 20 and 22, the longitudinal ribs 14 are scalloped on their outer faces, as at 30, to allow a more complete embedment of the rod in the concrete block, particularly when coarse aggregates are used. Center flange 24 serves as a drainage point for any moisture which may collect on the portion of the rod not embedded in the concrete. In addition, flange 24 also serves to center the rod in the machine used in production of the blocks. Hence, the rod is generally symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal axis and has a generally circular, maximum crosssection taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rod through the annular flanges 18, 20, and 22. This cross-section is small relative to the length of the rod adapting it for passage through a guide tube of a blockmaking machine. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate that each flat surface of flattened flange portions 26, 28 and an edge or outer extremity of each of two adjacent ribs 14 lie in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod.

The ends of the rod are chamfered as at 23 to facilitate feed gate break-out during casting of the rods and also to efiect proper entrance of the rod into a guide tube in the block making machine during operation thereof.

As may be seen in Fig. 8, the tie rod is especially suitable for joining in spaced relationship the pair of sections 40, 40 of a concrete block of the air cavity type. Preferably, two rods are used per block, each rod having its ends securely embedded in the concrete. The aforementioned flanges and ribs on the rod assure that the two sections of the block are rigidly held, it being important in a block of this type that the sections be immovable relative to each other to facilitate handling thereof in transportation and during construction. The firm embedment of the rods in the block sections adds materially to the strength and stability of walls built from such blocks.

While it is preferred that the tie rod be cast of malleable iron because of its high resistance to corrosion, it will be understood that it may be cast of any desired metal. Moreover, it will be apparent that the rod may be produced by methods other than casting, such as by rolling or forging operations.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A tie rod for joining a pair of concrete sections of a building block in spaced relationship, said rod being elongate and generally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis and having a generally circular maximum cross-section perpendicular to said axis and small relative to the length of the rod for passage through a guide tube of a block-making machine; said rod having a plurality of radially extending ribs extending substantially the full length of the rod, and a plurality of annular flanges of substantially equal diameter spaced lengthwise of said axis and arranged in two separate groups, one group adjacent each end of the rod; at least two flanges of each group being flattened on diametrically opposite sides with the flattened portions of one flange being at right angles with respect to the flattened portions of the other flange; each of said groups being symmetrically arranged relative to the longitudinal midpoint of the rod; said ribs being scalloped between adjacent flanges of each group.

2. A tie rod of claim 1 wherein: said longitudinal ribs are four in number and equiangularly spaced about said axis; each of the opposite surfaces of the flattened portions and a radially outer extremity of each two adjacent ribs lie approximately in a plane parallel to said axis; and the ends of said rod are chamfered to facilitate handling thereof by a guide tube.

3. In a centrally-open type building block comprising: a pair of side sections of concrete, a pair of spaced tie rods supporting said concrete sections in spaced rigid relationship; each rod having an end portion imbedded in both of the concrete sections and comprising: a plurality groups being symmetrically arranged relative to the longitudinal midpoint of the rod; all of saidflanges having a common diameter; said ribs being scalloped between adjacent flanges of each of said groups.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 843,843 Reavis Feb. 12, 1907 1,364,182 Conkling Jan. 4, 1921 1,533,324 Mack Apr. 14, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 928,419 France June 2, 1947 mix-:- nan. 

